MISCELLANEOUS OCCUPATIONS

LODGING AND BOARDING HOUSES

The total number of lodging and boarding houses in the two towns at the time of survey was 38 out of which 25 establishments served boarding facilities and the remaining served both. Fourteen establishments were situated in Satara and 24 in Karad. Of the total number of establishments in Satara, 13 were in Wards No. II, III, and V and one was in Ward No. VIII. In Karad, all of them were located in Guruwar and Shaniwar peths. The total employment in these establishments was 172 out of whom 75 were paid employees. The employment in establishments, providing lodging and boarding facilities was more than in those providing boarding facilities. Two establishments from each town were surveyed. All were started after 1945. The proprietors raised initial capital from their own resources.

The equipment consisted of tables, chairs, cupboards, beds and utensils required for cooking and serving meals. Two shops in Satara had equipment worth Rs. 700 and Rs. 7,000 each, two in Karad worth Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 5,000 each and two in Phaltan worth Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000 each. All establishments surveyed were situated in rented premises. The rent of each varied from Rs. 30 to Rs. 125 per month. The boarding and lodging houses usually occupied larger premises for which they paid more rent. Resides rent other charges for the maintenance of the establishment were municipal tax, electricity bill, water tax, wages to the labour, etc. These establishments spent between Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 on all these items except wages to labour.

The boarding and lodging houses supplied tea or coffee twice a day in addition to lunch and dinner. The total expenditure on items of foodgrains and other articles required for cooking varied from Rs. 700 to Rs. 2,000 per month per establishment. The total employment in them was 41, out of whom 31 were paid employees. These employees were paid monthly wages and in addition were served two meals a day. A cook was paid between Rs. 30 and Rs. 40, a manager between Rs. 60 and Rs. 70 and other workers between Rs. 12 and Rs. 25 per month.

The owners of boarding houses earned between Rs. 100 and Rs. 200 per month while those of boarding and lodging earned between Rs. 200 and Rs. 500. These hotel keepers had formed an association of their own, which helped them approach the government for acquiring concessions for furthering their interest in the business if it was found that there has been a considerable rise in the prices of all articles required for the preparation of numerous items, which considerably affected the margin of profits acquired by the hotel keepers.

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